Abstract: A visualization system and method allow moving objects to be visualized in a GIS system as an interactive animation by moving an icon or 3D graphical model in an interactive virtual environment of the GIS. A line may also be drawn behind the icon/3D model representing the path traveled during a window of time. Additionally, the evolution of time-dependent data associated with the moving object may be encoded and visualized in the GIS.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for estimating reflected radiance under complex distant illumination are described. In one embodiment, an importance sampling estimator is used with a novel piecewise constant importance function that effectively concentrates ray samples where energy is likely to be found. To properly account for the effects of a visibility term in the shading calculation, in one embodiment, a shadow cache is provided which caches information indicating ray directions that are occluded or unoccluded from a point in space. Accordingly, by concentrating hemispheric samples where the light source is likely to be strongest, a reflected radiance integral is efficiently computed and estimated in a real-world lighting situation.

Abstract: A method and system for enabling a user to import a user-defined graphics edit into at least one template, the method including the steps of selecting, by the user, at least one first editable object, editing, by the user, at least part of the at least one first editable object, thereby producing a user-defined graphics edit, saving the user-defined graphics edit, selecting, by the user, a template containing at least one second editable object; and applying at least part of the user-defined graphics edit to at least part of the at least one second editable object within the template.

Abstract: A character generator and its method are suitably applied to such a video title generator for adding title images to a video program. Specifically, the character generator according to the present invention analyzes the form of characters inputted by an operator through a keyboard, and generates a polygon model matching the inputted characters so that the inputted characters look a three-dimensional image. The generated polygon model is subjected to rendering processing and displayed on a computer display. The polygon model displayed on the display can be changed in real time by using three-dimensional parameter and so on, for a shadow or perspective, which is set by the operator on the GUI screen. Thereby, the three-dimensional character generated by transforming the inputted character into the three-dimensional form can be generated with simple constructions and operations and in real time.

Abstract: An improved three-dimensional, support socket digitizing system to be used primarily to manufacture a precisely configured clinical support device such as an orthotic brace and/or a prosthetic limb. The digitizing system includes at least one probe which is positioned on at least two skeletal landmark points of a body part to be supported, the probe including an exterior housing of known dimensions and being structured to have a position element disposed therein. The position element is structured to provide specific six-degree of freedom position and orientation information relative to a reference element which is also included in the digitizing system. As such, the specific position the probe relative to the reference element, and therefore the specific three dimensional spacial position of the skeletal landmark points, are determined for comparison with one another and for comparison with predefined landmark points of a predefined, three dimensional, support template having a standard configuration.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating spherical data sets, includes a spherical mirror disposed at a predetermined view point, a camera including a long lens, focused on the spherical mirror, which camera generates an image data stream; and a processor, which receives said image data stream, and which generates the spherical data sets responsive to the image data stream. According to one aspect of the present invention, the camera includes first and second cameras generating respective first and second image data streams. According to another aspect of the present invention, the spherical mirror, said camera, and the processor define a unitary structure. A method for generating the spherical data sets is also described.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for interactively controlling and coordinating the limb movements of computer-generated articulated. On-line computational methods are used for animating limb movements of articulated characters by solving associated forward and inverse kinematics problems in real time subject to multiple goals and constraints. The methods fully interactive goal-directed behaviors, such as bipedal walking, through simultaneous satisfaction of position, alignment, posture, balance, obstacle avoidance, and joint limitation constraints. Goal-based motion primitives, called synergies, coordinate sets of joint movements which separately attempt to satisfy each of the above constraints. The present methods adapt character movements on-line to accommodate uneven terrain, body modifications, or changes in the environment by automatically transforming and producing joint rotations relative to the instantaneous point of contact of the body with the world.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for post-processing a computer-generated image of a three-dimensional object for display as a pixel image. A focus depth is specified either by a user or from within the system for each image frame. The image pixels are grouped into non-overlapping blocks of adjoining image pixels with a single respective depth value pre-specified or calculated at run-time for each block. Each block is extracted in turn from the image and the pixels within a block are convolution filtered with a common set of filter coefficients. Padding may be applied to fill areas where a full filter kernel cannot be formed. The technique has particular suitability for MPEG-coded image streams where the existing MPEG macroblock specification may be taken advantage of.